On Monday I sowed my third batch of flower seeds in my little makeshift basement greenhouse. I started my ‘Kong Rose’ coleus plants which will eventually showcase these beautiful leaves:
And after taking a break from them for several years, I’m once again growing ‘Amazon Neon Rose Magic’ dianthus. It’s a butterfly favorite:
Every Monday from late February through the last week of April I sow a new batch of flowers seeds depending on their recommended start date. So far I’ve enjoyed a pretty respectable germination rate. Last year my rudbeckias took forever to sprout. This year I saw my first sprouts within 4 days.
These Rudbeckia ‘Maya’ plants are just two weeks old:
This summer they will look like this:
In just two years ‘Sunset Cruz’ Begonias have become one of my all-time favorite plants to grow. Last year my plants were still blooming in November. This year’s seeds were sprouted the same day as the rudbeckias, but it took them awhile longer to spring to life. I have to be careful not to spritz them too hard with water once they emerge because the sprouts are very tiny and grow slowly.
I’m going to use them in my barrels again. By July they’ll look like this. You can’t even see the barrels:
And I forgot to save seeds from my pollinator-attracting anise hyssop (Agastache) plants last fall, so I wasn’t sure if my two-year-old seeds would sprout. Apparently I had nothing to worry about:
When they grow up in a few months they’ll look like this and be smothered with bees:
Next week will be a big week with lots of salvias, ageratums and petunias.
2 comments
Great to know you are having success with your seed sowing. I have six types of Rudbeckia started: Sahara (I’m trying it again), Denver Daisy, Ruby Ruby, Moroccan, Cherry Brandy (I read that they can be muddy looking), and Tiger Eye. The first leaves are beginning to form on the lot, but it’s so cold in that part of the basement where grow my seedling. But I keep the temperature on 16 C and use the heating mat in the morning and late night.
I started about a dozen Bishop’s Children. They are coping with the cold!
I have only some mixed Zahara Zinnia left to sow as well as some Calendula – Fiesta Giganta did really well during the cold, wet season we experienced. I also had some great taller varieties that did very well. In addition I’ll have some dahlias I saved over the winter. I’m planning to get other dahlias as well as other plants from the nurseries.
Oh yes, I lost my timing schedules for previous plantings when we installed a new computer. When do you sow your zinnia seeds? James
I’ve had the same problem with basement chill, but for the opposite reason. It was quite mild last week so our heat didn’t kick on much during the day. On one of the sunny days I brought the flats upstairs to sit in some sunlight for awhile so they could at least get a little warmth. None of the seeds I sowed last Monday have shown any signs of life yet and I think it’s because it was so chilly down there. I have heating mats, but I got a notice that they were recalled for being a fire hazard, so I only use them when I’m actually down there working just in case. This week it’s back to chilly outside temperatures, so the heat will be on more regularly which should make my seeds and seedlings much happier.
It sounds like you have a nice start. I’ve grown all those rudbeckias at one time or another except ‘Ruby Ruby.’ My Saharas are sprouting much better than last year. I believe I had to triple sow them last year before anything sprouted. I loved the flowers that did eventually make it to the garden.
I start my Zahara Zinnias 6 weeks before my last frost date, so they are on the schedule for April 6 this year. I hope you continue to have good luck with your little sprouts!
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